Coronavirus prep
kshama2001
Posts: 28,052 Member
My OH keeps telling me to stock up on Fritos 
I've been seeing stories like these, which are encouraging me to start stocking up for the eventuality of price increases or temporary shortages:
I'm thinking about shelf stable milk. I think reconstituted powdered milk is gross, but have had some ascetic milk that wasn't bad. Don't remember the brand. Anyone have recommendations for brands and best place to buy for best prices?
I was in south Florida for the dreadful 2005 hurricane season, so I believe in preparing for times when stores are not available, although as time has passed, I've done less stocking up.
I've been seeing stories like these, which are encouraging me to start stocking up for the eventuality of price increases or temporary shortages:
- P&G Says 17,600 Products Could Be Affected By Coronavirus In China, Highlighting Supply Chain Risk
- I heard stories about panic buying in New York and Washington states on the news, so I do not have the exact links.
I'm thinking about shelf stable milk. I think reconstituted powdered milk is gross, but have had some ascetic milk that wasn't bad. Don't remember the brand. Anyone have recommendations for brands and best place to buy for best prices?
I was in south Florida for the dreadful 2005 hurricane season, so I believe in preparing for times when stores are not available, although as time has passed, I've done less stocking up.
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Replies
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While is is mainly on the West coast today in the USA one article said it will be spreading the month of March and April to the rest of the country. Thankfully spring time is coming.7
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I don't trust the aseptic milk.
P&G...what products do I buy of theirs?
Why are we panicking about Covid19? Isn't it just a little bit more virulent than a cold? Why are we panicking?*
*I looked at the WHO site about it, and I just am not feeling the fear about this...I'm more worried about people not vaccinating their kids against the flu to be honest. We've had zoonotic diseases forever...I don't think it's even possible to contain something like this now that people travel. I had a friend return from overseas and they wee encouraged to use hand sanitizer as they left the plane.76 -
We just got some extra dry beans, rice, and gallon jugs of water. We aren't really afraid of the virus, but more of the panicked shoppers that might clear the shelves, lol.43
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DancingMoosie wrote: »We just got some extra dry beans, rice, and gallon jugs of water. We aren't really afraid of the virus, but more of the panicked shoppers that might clear the shelves, lol.
Same for us. I'm not terribly concerned about the virus but of the surrounding panic that will cause empty store shelves and panic about people going out in public. We haven't bought anything yet, but we are going to stock up on things like oats, frozen fruits and veggies, frozen meat, boxed macaroni and cheese, and crackers. And probably flour and sugar so we can still make cookies 19 -
kshama2001 wrote: »My OH keeps telling me to stock up on Fritos
I've been seeing stories like these, which are encouraging me to start stocking up for the eventuality of price increases or temporary shortages:- P&G Says 17,600 Products Could Be Affected By Coronavirus In China, Highlighting Supply Chain Risk
- I heard stories about panic buying in New York and Washington states on the news, so I do not have the exact links.
I'm thinking about shelf stable milk. I think reconstituted powdered milk is gross, but have had some ascetic milk that wasn't bad. Don't remember the brand. Anyone have recommendations for brands and best place to buy for best prices?
I was in south Florida for the dreadful 2005 hurricane season, so I believe in preparing for times when stores are not available, although as time has passed, I've done less stocking up.
I think Horizon is shelf stable and it tastes pretty good. I believe many grocery stores in the US now carry it.8 -
cmriverside wrote: »I don't trust the aseptic milk.
P&G...what products do I buy of theirs?
Why are we panicking about Covid19? Isn't it just a little bit more virulent than a cold? Why are we panicking?*
*I looked at the WHO site about it, and I just am not feeling the fear about this...I'm more worried about people not vaccinating their kids against the flu to be honest. We've had zoonotic diseases forever...I don't think it's even possible to contain something like this now that people travel. I had a friend return from overseas and they wee encouraged to use hand sanitizer as they left the plane.
I'm not panicking, like the poster above, I'm prepping against panicked buyers that might clear the shelves
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/mar/02/worse-than-the-flu-busting-the-coronavirus-myths-face-masks-vaccine-covid-19
Claim: ‘It is no more dangerous than winter flu’
Many individuals who get coronavirus will experience nothing worse than seasonal flu symptoms, but the overall profile of the disease, including its mortality rate, looks more serious. At the start of an outbreak the apparent mortality rate can be an overestimate if a lot of mild cases are being missed. But this week, a WHO expert suggested that this has not been the case with Covid-19. Bruce Aylward, who led an international mission to China to learn about the virus and the country’s response, said the evidence did not suggest that we were only seeing the tip of the iceberg. If borne out by further testing, this could mean that current estimates of a roughly 1% fatality rate are accurate. This would make Covid-19 about 10 times more deadly than seasonal flu, which is estimated to kill between 290,000 and 650,000 people a year globally.32 -
Done and done. The half has not been told. No one knows when the outbreak will end. This thing is not the usual flu and it could mutate many times before/after vaccinations are found. I live out in the middle of nowhere and already food delivery chains are shrinking. The store manager told me so and many of our shelves are bare. I've made a couple big grocery hauls. We can only do what our budgets afford. I have frozen and canned fruit/vege. Soups and broths. I have large bins of legumes and rice. Paper products, bandaids, toiletries. Large canisters of protein powders, dehydrated fruits and vege. Tinned fishes and jerky. Water purifier and tablets. I already have boogie bags prepared with all of the 'uzhe' emergency gear for weather events and power outages that happen during the winter months.
I've taken over a decade of Winter Survival and Cold Weather/First Aid Training courses. I'm ready but I wish everyone out there to remain in good health. Much love to you all.24 -
I'm not stocking up on anything here in the US in a state with no reported cases. That said, I always have ample dried goods and shelf stable foods. We always have costco-quantities of soy milk (no refrigeration needed), quinoa-rice packets, meal pouches (tastybite), ramen, cereal, granola bars, dried fruits (craisens), oatmeal, nuts, baking ingredients (bread, cookies, pie), and soylent. I always keep the pantry full so I'm not tempted to eat out and because I love to bake.18
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I'm personally not that concerned with it for me, my wife or my kids, that much. They are younger and healthier.
But, three things really concern me. One -- from the data I've read, 25% of the cases require extensive health care -- either ICU or hospitalization. Two -- we have the largest population of uninsured people in the US of any developed nation. Third, we also have the least amount of paid sick days. In addition to that, it's worse in transmission because it's easily spread, unlike viruses of the past, even when someone isn't showing symptoms yet.
This will be very bad and kill 100s of thousands. Unfortunately, it's shaping up like a catastrophy that will lay waste to the older that are poor and uninsured or that have preexisting conditions and can't afford healthcare. I pray I'm very wrong, but I don't think I am.40 -
DancingMoosie wrote: »We just got some extra dry beans, rice, and gallon jugs of water. We aren't really afraid of the virus, but more of the panicked shoppers that might clear the shelves, lol.
Same for us. I'm not terribly concerned about the virus but of the surrounding panic that will cause empty store shelves and panic about people going out in public. We haven't bought anything yet, but we are going to stock up on things like oats, frozen fruits and veggies, frozen meat, boxed macaroni and cheese, and crackers. And probably flour and sugar so we can still make cookies
Flour for making bread is at the top of my list
I'm also going to buy canned tuna, peanut butter, rice, beans, shelf stable fruit, etc.
As for P&G products, they make my brand of toilet paper, so I'm definitely buying a big thing of that.5 -
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GaleHawkins wrote: »While is is mainly on the West coast today in the USA one article said it will be spreading the month of March and April to the rest of the country. Thankfully spring time is coming.
What does spring have to do with it?7 -
kshama2001 wrote: »cmriverside wrote: »I don't trust the aseptic milk.
P&G...what products do I buy of theirs?
Why are we panicking about Covid19? Isn't it just a little bit more virulent than a cold? Why are we panicking?*
*I looked at the WHO site about it, and I just am not feeling the fear about this...I'm more worried about people not vaccinating their kids against the flu to be honest. We've had zoonotic diseases forever...I don't think it's even possible to contain something like this now that people travel. I had a friend return from overseas and they wee encouraged to use hand sanitizer as they left the plane.
I'm not panicking, like the poster above, I'm prepping against panicked buyers that might clear the shelves
So far I haven't seen any sign of that, thankfully.
I went out with a friend on Friday who said she had stocked up on lots of things that day, which got me thinking about it. Worst case I have lots of grains and canned goods in my pantry anyway, so toilet paper would probably be the main thing that I should go out and buy just in case. That and cat food.3 -
,kshama2001 wrote: »
CALIFORNIA?!
Seriously though, I didn't realize people were panicking so much until I saw the news this morning that shelves were being emptied at Costcos all around!! LIke, what's going on?! WHY?!
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kshama2001 wrote: »
This is not to panic anyone or anything, but we've only in the past week gotten an effective COVID 19 test to all the states. I'm trying to remember the source. I think it was propublica. Also on Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, if you're into that.
I'm not super worried about it, but then again, people come into work sick all the time to save their leave, and it's contagious before you show symptoms and it's probably airborne transmission so...
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I have bought a little more of the stuff we have on hand normally, which includes canned evaporated milk. We only use milk in cooking and coffee, and we never use it fast enough to get through a whole carton before it goes bad. Canned is much less wasteful for us. I actually prefer it undiluted in my coffee (doesn't dilute strong coffee taste). Dilute 1:1 for any other use. I buy Aldi's house brand, but there are many others. Besides that, I just topped off my stores of rice, beans, other pantry staples. I also bought a little extra bacon to put in the freezer. Because, bacon.
ETA: and coffee... usually buy what I need for a week but bought a little extra last week and will do so again this week. It will DEF get used and would make me very sad if we didn't have. Worth planning for the worst on that front.10 -
But...
Okay. I don't have TV and I don't look at the news.
Ya'll - WHY are people stripping grocery shelves? Are we being locked into our houses? Do they think it is going to blow over in a week? Are all the food supply chains being shut down by the government? I don't understand...you guys are kind of freaking me out but I don't really know why.
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p.s. I'm in WA. I guess if anyone I really *should* be panicky? What's with the State of Emergency because one already sick man died?
alllll righty. Time to get off the internet.12 -
cmriverside wrote: »p.s. I'm in WA. I guess if anyone I really *should* be panicky? What's with the State of Emergency because one already sick man died?
alllll righty. Time to get off the internet.
I do not approve of resource hoarding, and I have no more than I normally would have. In Wuhan they did shut people in their houses. They put speakers out on the streets saying people were confined to their houses.
It is fun to think about apocolypse scenarios, though. For some value of "fun."8 -
I'm in Washington state, pretty close to the confirmed cases and yes, I'm a tad worried. Not in a panic, but being cautious. I have little kids and have asthma myself so I don't want any of us catching ANYTHING that could land us in the hospital.
I'm wondering why is everyone stockpiling toilet paper?!?! That is selling out as quick as water around here!17 -
cmriverside wrote: »But...
Okay. I don't have TV and I don't look at the news.
Ya'll - WHY are people stripping grocery shelves? Are we being locked into our houses? Do they think it is going to blow over in a week? Are all the food supply chains being shut down by the government? I don't understand...you guys are kind of freaking me out but I don't really know why.
There are a couple of practical concerns:
There are other countries that have been harder hit and are having rolling quarantines, specifically China. If any portion of a food companies supply chain comes from China (including mechanical equipment) they could be affected.
People like to doomsday, and a couple of conspiracy theories get out and there could be a run on staples.
On a much lower threshhold, if there is a local cluster, theoretically it could get to a point where a state of emergency is called and businesses forced to close to keep people home. I doubt there is more than a smidgen of a tiny chance of that here, but there you go.
I'm a bit worried for my parents, as they are in their 70s and it seems to be more of a problem for seniors. We live in the vicinity of UVA and spring break is coming up with lots of students traveling and returning (including international students going home). They've had their flu shots but generally refuse the pneumonia vaccine.
I don't know. I'm only a little worried because others are worried which is probably not the best reason!10 -
Hahahaa... I guess people the world over consider toilet paper an essential. There was a run on it in Hong Kong. In my Aldi (TX) the toilet paper shelves were bare Friday. I didn't associate that with the pandemic, though.
ETA: And DH, who normally has little to add to the grocery list, has twice asked me to get toilet paper. And it's not like we were running low either time he asked.4 -
I'm in Washington state, pretty close to the confirmed cases and yes, I'm a tad worried. Not in a panic, but being cautious. I have little kids and have asthma myself so I don't want any of us catching ANYTHING that could land us in the hospital.
I'm wondering why is everyone stockpiling toilet paper?!?! That is selling out as quick as water around here!
If I imagine being stuck in my apartment for a couple of weeks trying to avoid exposure to a disease, running out of toilet paper seems like it would be mighty inconvenient.25 -
I’m not delighted with the message that “It’s fine, mostly older people with chronic conditions die from this.” I am an older person with two chronic conditions, lupus and diabetes, my husband is a older person with asthma, my mother is a very old person with heart disease, and most of the people I love are older with one or more chronic conditions.74
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cmriverside wrote: »p.s. I'm in WA. I guess if anyone I really *should* be panicky? What's with the State of Emergency because one already sick man died?
alllll righty. Time to get off the internet.
People seem to react to everything by hoarding stuff. Happens with weather things. Supposedly the idea is that if there is an outbreak in your area avoiding crowded areas like stores is recommended. I am not worried about doing that (unless I were to get sick or find out I was exposed, of course), but I think the bigger concern is stores running out of stuff.
(Apparently some places local to me have run out of masks -- which I would not buy anyway -- and hand sanitizer, although I was at the store as normal yesterday and didn't notice any weird activity. I didn't go to Costco, though.)
And, ha, ha, as a result of this discussion I seem to be getting ads for masks.2 -
rheddmobile wrote: »I’m not delighted with the message that “It’s fine, mostly older people with chronic conditions die from this.” I am an older person with two chronic conditions, lupus and diabetes, my husband is a older person with asthma, my mother is a very old person with heart disease, and most of the people I love are older with one or more chronic conditions.
Thank you, well said. I'd be crushed to lose even one of the older people in my life with a chronic condition. This isn't reassurance. We're talking about a lot of loved people here. There are also younger people with chronic conditions that put them at risk (my sister is in her 20s, but we know that the flu and flulike illnesses are extra dangerous for her).18 -
I'm a bit worried for my parents, as they are in their 70s and it seems to be more of a problem for seniors. We live in the vicinity of UVA and spring break is coming up with lots of students traveling and returning (including international students going home). They've had their flu shots but generally refuse the pneumonia vaccine.
I don't tend to worry about this kind of stuff, but my dad and his wife (70s and late 60s) live in Mexico in the winter and I've vaguely wondered if he's going to get stuck there if they close the border (which was something threatened and seems like something that would happen). His wife is a retired nurse and is currently volunteering at a hospital, so I suppose if it comes to where they are she would be at a greater risk. (If they weren't there they'd be in Washington, though.)3 -
cmriverside wrote: »But...
Okay. I don't have TV and I don't look at the news.
Ya'll - WHY are people stripping grocery shelves? Are we being locked into our houses? Do they think it is going to blow over in a week? Are all the food supply chains being shut down by the government? I don't understand...you guys are kind of freaking me out but I don't really know why.
There are a couple of practical concerns:
There are other countries that have been harder hit and are having rolling quarantines, specifically China. If any portion of a food companies supply chain comes from China (including mechanical equipment) they could be affected.
People like to doomsday, and a couple of conspiracy theories get out and there could be a run on staples.
On a much lower threshhold, if there is a local cluster, theoretically it could get to a point where a state of emergency is called and businesses forced to close to keep people home. I doubt there is more than a smidgen of a tiny chance of that here, but there you go.
I'm a bit worried for my parents, as they are in their 70s and it seems to be more of a problem for seniors. We live in the vicinity of UVA and spring break is coming up with lots of students traveling and returning (including international students going home). They've had their flu shots but generally refuse the pneumonia vaccine.
I don't know. I'm only a little worried because others are worried which is probably not the best reason!
We have a corporate task force dedicated to evaluating our supply chain risk and employee risk as we are a large global company. The advice is to stock up on some basics is to consider having ~2 weeks of supplies for every person in your household. This is not only to be prepared if you are impacted/quarantined - but also to consider that in the very likely place that there are people in your area who are impacted, there will be a run on the stores. Around here, if there is even a hint of a snowstorm, people go running to the store to raid the shelves, imagine what it will be like with a viral contagion that is unprecedented in the central US.
Secondly - because the general advice is that if there is someone in your household who contracts it, they will advice all family members to socially quarantine, which means even if my husband falls ill with what is symptomatic of a bad cold or seasonal flu, they would not recommend I go to the store to stock up on supplies at that time; I should already have them in the house.
Some of the basics they are advising us to procure include
Shelf stable foods and anything you have freezer space for
Basic OTC medications particularly cough medicine, sinus treatments, throat lozenges
Prescription medication in case you are not able to get to the pharmacy to restock
Electrolytes - pedialyte powder, etc
Basic paper supplies - tissue, toilet paper, paper towels, etc
Hand Sanitizer, Lysol, AntiBacterial Wipes
Toiletries
Pet Food
Things you'd want to have around the house if you were holed up with your family for a couple of weeks. For me this includes getting a couple of new board games, some new books, movies, making sure I've got plenty of coffee, wine, popcorn and girl scout cookies...
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cmriverside wrote: »But...
Okay. I don't have TV and I don't look at the news.
Ya'll - WHY are people stripping grocery shelves? Are we being locked into our houses? Do they think it is going to blow over in a week? Are all the food supply chains being shut down by the government? I don't understand...you guys are kind of freaking me out but I don't really know why.
Along with the other responses to your question - I think people believe that the US will start implementing quarantines as some other countries have done. I know that people are being asked to self-quarantine if they are at risk. In fact someone I work with self-quarantined for two weeks. The rumor is that he was asked to do so by senior management but I don't know if that's true. Regardless, I think people are basically expecting the supply chain to fall apart and simultaneously to be quarantined for 14-30 days if they or anyone they know get sick.3 -
I'm willing to hop on board the "This is how the zombie apocalypse starts" conspiracy train, but I'm kicking myself for slacking on my workouts the last few months now.12
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